Several weeks ago I (Sandy) discovered this candidate for the House of Delegates: Les Adams. I was encouraged. Adams is a Chatham attorney, a named partner at Adams, Elmore & Fisk, and was an adjunct instructor at the Helms School of Government (That’s former NC Senator and hero of mine Jesse Helms for you!) for several years. (Adams graduated from Liberty University for his undergrad and the University of Richmond School of Law.)

I was excited about Adams from the beginning and got the chance to speak with him; I believe he’s a great conservative. Don’t take my word for it: Adams was recently endorsed by Delegate Ben Cline (district 24) and the Virginia Conservative Victory Project:

“The 2013 Session of the General Assembly was a disappointment for conservatives, but since adjournment I have been traveling the Commonwealth in search of conservative candidates for open House seats,” Cline said. “I have driven from Marion to Virginia Beach, and after interviewing each candidate in every contested open GOP primary, I believe that Les and Gary [Byler in the 85th District] will serve in the House of Delegates as strong conservatives if elected this November. They will stand by their conservative principles and serve their constituents, not the special interests in Richmond. I look forward to working with them in the General Assembly as we pursue a conservative policy agenda.”

“The purpose of the Victory Project is to support candidates such as Les and Gary,” Cline added. “Both men are outstanding candidates who are eminently qualified for the position. After interviewing both men about taxes, government reform, and family issues, I am confident that both men will oppose tax increases, promote free market principles, and protect traditional family values. I am proud to support them in the GOP primary next Tuesday, June 11.”

In a recent debate, Adams stood well against his opponent. First his opponent was uncertain of the Tenth Amendment, while Les, the former instructor at Helms, nailed the question. Here’s the GoDanRiver’s take of this:

When asked whether he supported the 10th Amendment, Bowman said he had to look it up, but is in favor of it. The 10th Amendment requires that the federal government’s power is limited to that granted to it by the Constitution. Remaining powers are left to the states.

“I support anything that would curtail government overreach,” Bowman said.

Adams said, “I didn’t have to look it up,” and added that Virginia is not a subsidiary of the federal government. Powers not relegated to the feds go to the states, Adams said.

“I wish more elected officials would pay attention to it,” he said of the 10th Amendment.

Then Adams and Bowman were asked about the governor’s tax plan (from Adams’ site but the radio site was cited):

The candidates differed slightly on the Governor’s transportation package. Adams says if he were serving in the legislature this spring, he would have opposed the idea, calling it the largest tax hike in state history. Bowman says it’s impossible to say if he would have supported the plan, but he says it’ll have big benefits down the road.

You can’t vote “present” in the Virginia House of Delegates! Adams clearly took his stand; Bowman waffled.

I am proud to write this endorsement for the Virginia Right blog: It’s LES ADAMS in the SIXTEENTH HOD DISTRICT in the GOP Primary next Tuesday. As I can give painful witness, every vote counts in one of these primaries.

Elwood "Sandy" Sanders is a Hanover attorney who is an Appellate Procedure Consultant for Lantagne Legal Printing and has written ten scholarly legal articles. Sandy was also Virginia's first Appellate Defender and also helped bring curling in VA! (None of these titles imply any endorsement of Sanders’ views)